“I want to take a look underneath that disguise once.”
Those were the words from Director Ko Tae-min as he observed Sua.
An employee standing nearby nodded in agreement.
“Exactly.”
“Hmph, that’s not what I meant, Insuk.”
“Huh? Ah, I didn’t mean anything inappropriate either. Ahem…”
The man blushed and cleared his throat when Director Ko Tae-min glanced at him. He was the PD who had been assigned to handle the production of Ko Tae-min’s new work, ‘Starting Tomorrow: Crescendo’.
Director Ko Tae-min clicked his tongue but did not berate the man. After all, he too had to admit that Sua’s figure was impressive.
Humans are naturally drawn to harmonious proportions, and it wasn’t just the PD who was captivated—likely everyone around was experiencing the same.
Sua’s presence was magnetic, drawing attention without effort.
“…So, what did you mean by that?”
“Simple.”
The director continued as if it were obvious.
“I meant that I want to see past the disguise created by makeup. Don’t you wonder what lies beneath? Certainly, some extraordinary creature must be hidden there. Something we’ve never seen before.”
“A monster… Hmm, indeed…”
The PD nodded silently in agreement.
From that moment on, Director Ko Tae-min continued to carefully observe Sua’s performances. Her scenes with Kim Sun-il, her scenes with Park Do-hee, and how she spent her breaks in between—everything.
“Her skills are already exceptional. Going to auditions wasn’t even a necessity—she’s at a level where she can pick and choose her projects. Her talent is undeniable.”
Seo Jae-woo, the director of planning who had acted as the right hand to Director Kim Jun-gi, had once loudly proclaimed that he had found the perfect ‘money-is-everything’ actor for Kim Jun-gi. Why had Seo Jae-woo immediately sought out Kim I-seo and Sua, even imploring them to at least read the script?
Ko Tae-min understood now why that was.
Sua’s skills were truly extraordinary.
But despite this, he could not fully grasp who Sua truly was.
“Was she intimidated by Kim Jun-gi’s reputation back then, or did she turn him down out of disinterest? Which was it?”
But soon, he came to an answer.
When he recalled the first time he had seen Sua, her expression standing rigidly in front of the 808 HQ, it no longer seemed like tension. It seemed more like intense focus—likely due to the character of Kim Yu-han that she had already started embodying even then.
At that moment, Ko Tae-min gently tapped on the shoulder of someone nearby. He had to do so because everyone in the production team of ‘Starting Tomorrow: Crescendo’ was dazed.
“What do you think about the role of Kim Yu-han?”
A nearby staff member immediately replied.
“Remarkable.”
Simple, yet accurate.
“It’s unbelievable to think how much work she must have put into adapting such an unfinished role originally designed for a different gender. The way she manages to avoid every potential error in the script is incredible. And the androgynous voice—ambiguous yet strangely charming.”
One by one, the crew started chiming in, though no one actually made direct eye contact with each other, all eyes still on Sua.
“From what I’ve heard, that particular scene was an improvisation. How could a newcomer do something like that? Especially considering her scene partner was the notoriously challenging Kim Sun-il. It shows she has immense confidence.”
“Excuse me, but hold on a moment.”
The voice came from someone who seemed incredulous. It was the staff member responsible for casting in ‘Starting Tomorrow: Crescendo’. The one who, after meticulously recording each interview on his tablet, had reported everything back to Ko Tae-min.
He continued.
“Is there anyone here who has seen this actress before, even once? I don’t recognize her at all.”
“We haven’t either…”
Everyone shook their heads, indicating that Sua was entirely new to them.
“I scoured everywhere, no exclusions. How could I have missed someone so visually striking and with such unparalleled acting skills? What did I overlook?”
“You’ve done your job well, my friend. No need to blame yourself.”
Director Ko Tae-min reassured the casting staff. He knew better than anyone how thoroughly this person had worked, even checking the musical and theater scenes.
“Comets fall unexpectedly, that’s all. You can ask the writer, Lee Geum-sook, or the PD, Choi Hee-won, for more details later. Now, speaking of which…”
The director rubbed his jaw.
“Park Do-hee. The real reason we’re here was because of Park Do-hee. How did today’s performance by Do-hee feel?”
“Park Do-hee? Amazing. Her skills have clearly grown a lot since the auditions.”
“Saying her skills have grown might be a bit off.”
Ko Tae-min’s response carried a note of mystery.
“No, it’s more like she’s elevated to another level.”
“…She’s reached a new level?”
Praise and admiration for Park Do-hee.
However, even amidst these discussions, no mentions were made about casting Park Do-hee as the leading role of Ko Tae-min’s new work. Everyone knew there was someone else more deserving.
“Indeed, it’s not just Park Do-hee. Kim Sun-il is the same. Kim Sun-il, who previously didn’t even consider variations in his role, is now doing it effortlessly. What could be the reason? Clearly, Kim Yu-han.”
Naturally, it was the actor playing Kim Yu-han who was the catalyst.
“I had a vague sense of it too.”
The PD in charge agreed.
“It seems like they’re walking in step, but when you look closely, it’s different. When Kim Yu-han takes a step forward, Lee Kang-cheol rushes to keep up, even though it should be the other way around, considering Kim Yu-han is a newcomer.”
“Exactly. Such is the disadvantage of being a newcomer in this industry.”
Indeed, the entertainment industry is a tough space for beginners. Directors, staff, other actors—none of them have less authority than the newcomers, making their voice often weaker.
But Sua was different.
She led without hesitation or difficulty, as if she had always done so.
“Something must have happened during the mock shoot that earned her such immense trust. It’s surprising. A newcomer leading freely while others support her—it’s unheard of.”
“…”
No one could respond easily. The reality was too hard to accept despite knowing it intellectually.
The casting staff eventually broke the silence.
“So, this actor not only completed an unfinished role but also has a positive effect on those around them?”
“Exactly. The overall quality of the piece has greatly improved.”
Ko Tae-min rubbed his rough jaw.
“…I’d like to try casting her in one of my works. What do you think?”
By this point, the ‘Starting Tomorrow: Crescendo’ production team had started murmuring amongst themselves.
“Director, we must wrap up for the day. They’ve spotted Director Ko Tae-min over there, and everyone is murmuring.”
“Looks like they’re preparing to pay their respects. Let’s leave soon.”
Ko Tae-min stood up immediately.
While it was a pleasant thing to receive visits due to his reputation, this was the special operations team 808 shooting location. If too much attention were drawn to him, it would be an inconvenience.
“As much as I’d like to stay…”
Ko Tae-min occasionally turned back as he walked away.
“Her emotional expressions are incredibly subtle. Compared to an average person, her sensitivity resonates through the music in multiple ways.”
He walked away with a deep sense of regret.
◈◈◈◈◈
The first day of filming for the Special Mobile Unit 808 had ended.
“Hey! You forgot the camera!”
The scene was still bustling with the work of dismantling equipment. These devices could not be left carelessly. Because they needed to be set up and packed away daily, it was labor-intensive.
“There’s nothing forgotten! There’s just a lot to carry first! We’ll get to it in order, no need to worry!”
“The sound team will move first! The equipment is extremely sensitive!”
“Stay focused until the end! The cleanup is part of the job! The filming isn’t completely done yet! We still have tomorrow!”
Setting up and dismantling equipment daily was undeniably laborious.
But, no one showed any reluctance. Instead, smiles were plenty on everyone’s faces.
The reason was simple.
“Did we nail today’s shoot?”
“I lost track of time. It’s incredible to witness this with my own eyes.”
“How do the viewers manage to wait for each new episode?”
“Exactly! I’m so curious to see how the audience will react!”
The scenes captured today were simply outstanding even to them.
Naturally, they wondered how the audience would receive it.
One of the crew eventually couldn’t contain himself and shouted out,
“Ah! When is the premiere day?! I’m so curious, I can’t stand it!”
.
.
.
.
.
.
Meanwhile.
“Ah, I’m exhausted.”
Sua looked like a wet arctic fox.
Would an arctic fox ever get soaked in the rain? That’s beside the point. Right now, Sua was incredibly tired.
Hence, she was indulging in the delusion of being a rain-soaked fox.
“Urgh…”
Sua pressed her eyelids with her fingers.
“Even if my abilities improve somehow, this tiredness is due to my lack of stamina. I really need to start exercising.”
The difficulty of this full-length feature shoot was on a different level from preliminary shoots or short films. No breaks as scenes flowed continuously.
In a sudden thought, Sua remembered a phrase.
“Arctic fox, bear the weight of the crown.”
“…Is this the weight of being the lead?”
Honestly, Sua hadn’t given much thought to being the lead.
Lead? Isn’t it just a slightly better version of a supporting role?
But after experiencing it, that view had changed. The lead carried a substantial responsibility. Given the overwhelming amount of screen time, Sua’s responsibilities were extensive.
“Tired… exhausted… I want to die… Ah, but I don’t really want to…”
Just as Sua was considering heading back to her quarters.
Whoosh—
The entrance to the waiting tent was pulled open by someone.
And an unforeseen person appeared.
“Sua.”
Kim Sun-il.
“I need to speak with you for a moment.”
His expression was unusually solemn.
